Written by Pete DeLaunay
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For more than 50 years, ArtsFund has promoted the value of the arts in King County, and recently commissioned The Social Impact of the Arts Study, about how art impacts communities. ArtsFund Vice President Sarah Sidman said arts organizations contribute $2.4 billion and 35,000 jobs to the Washington state economy, as she delivered powerful results from the GMA Research study that showed how art changes lives in three areas: youth and education, health and wellness, and neighborhood vitality.
Ms. Sidman launched her remarks by introducing members of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra who performed a piece from the Lullaby Project, where they work with Mary’s Place parents and children in crisis to create personal lullabies. The music represented an example of arts education. Overall, 76% of respondents believe the arts are beneficial, while only 28% think the arts benefit social change. “We want to change that number to show how the arts are a valuable tool to affect outcomes,” she said.
For the youth and education theme, she cited Urban Artworks as another example of art helping recently incarcerated juveniles “off-ramp” into communities – 83% of participants do not re-offend. Lower income youth have the most to gain as it helps close the opportunity gap. For the health and wellness theme, she called out the Seattle Theatre Group’s advancement of “whole-person wellness” through dance. The dance program has improved individual and community health by lowering anxiety and reducing the use of medications, among other benefits.
For neighborhood vitality, she said that Jet City Improv’s drug abuse programs have delivered impressive results and that Seattle Arts & Lectures has shown that when art is integrated with another intervention it makes people more successful.“Creative thinking is fundamental to a growing economy,” she said, “as more places are making strategic investments in arts integration for a distinct advantage. The partnerships are great success stories.”
She encouraged Rotarians to engage employees in the arts by supporting giving campaigns and inviting arts organizations to policy planning discussions. “With meaningful investments, we all win as arts do have social impact,” she said.
President Cindy opened the meeting with a goodwill message to former Rotarian Scott Jensen who is recovering from heart surgery. Ken Grant led Rotarians in a “get well” video to wish Scott a speedy recovery. Rotarians joined in five minutes of table introductions and elevator speech practice. Linda Rough, accompanied by Jevon Powell, Andrew Lyon, and members of the orchestra, led Rotarians in the uplifting song, What a Wonderful World. SRSF President Jeff Borek announced the conclusion of the annual campaign and recognized his board for their diligence. Business mentors scholarship recipients were introduced as an example of SRSF investments.
Matt Albertson of KUOW thanked the Rotary Peacebuilder Committee and SRSF for their support of teacher workshops at the Holocaust Center for Humanity at Second and Lenora. Alvaro Jimenez and Chris Johnson were welcomed as new members.
This week's Totem Report was written by Pete DeLaunay, a 15-year member of our club and online writer and editor.